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The Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Junior, has called for a reversal of the current policy which allows natural resources in Ghana to be exploited to the detriment of Ghanaians.

Saying it was the greatest challenge Ghana faces, the managing editor noted that the current situation causes Ghana to lose lots of revenue to foreign countries in export especially when no factory resides in Ghana to add value to the resources.

Describing the situation as unfortunate, he indicated that until a reversal is made to benefit Ghanaians, leaders would continue to run to foreign countries and institutions for some support Ghanaians could provide if the chance is given.

Mr. Pratt could not come to terms with the fact that leaders would turn up at the doors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank even though their entire interventions still does not really make impacts in the economy. He observed it was a sign of mismanagement and incompetence.

He was sure if a debate was organised among the Ghana’s economic brains “who are better qualified than some of the people at the IMF and World Bank”, Ghana would find solutions to its economic and other challenges alike. 

The managing Editor made those statements as a panel expert last Thursday in Accra when the Drolor Centre for Strategic Leadership of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) organised a leadership symposium bothering on Ghana’s Developmental Agenda: 58 years of Independence, How and How Not?

According to him, the paradigm needs to change in order so that we can develop the human capital base and build the capacity of the local industry with the required technology to dive in to the sector.

Dr. Abu Sakara, another Panel expert, was of the view that Ghana has lost ownership of its own properties because of gross mismanagement by successive governments that came after Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He noted that stability in Nkrumah’s government devoid of military overthrow would have fast forwarded Ghana’s development adding that “Nkrumah had a 3 tier plan for Ghana of which remain untapped”.

The Agronomist said what leaders have to do now is to outline a national developmental plan to “reset the current paradigm which is only benefiting investors to benefit us”.

Mr. Franklin Cudjoe, Executive Director of IMANI Ghana, a policy think-tank, expressed surprise over how Ghana’s gross domestic product grew by 15% in 2011 and suddenly reduced below four percent in 2015.

He called for the decentralization of decision makings to enable the participation of all Ghanaians in solving national problems.

An Energy Expert, Mr. kwame Jantuah, said Ghana under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was manufacturing everything and wondered why such a laudable policy was abandoned by subsequent governments.

The man who doubles as the CEO of African Energy Consortium Ltd He averred that Ghana must be fixed and such responsibility did not only lie on the politicians but the entire citizenry.

Professor Goski Alabi, Dean, School of Graduates Studies UPSA, called for the drafting and adoption of a national development plan to help guide the development process of the country.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala said it was fundamentally and intellectually flawed to compare Ghana to Malaysia because Malaysia enjoyed political stability in 20years and thus opened doors for international market for investment.

The Deputy Minister said his government have accepted the blame for the ‘Dumsor’ but the question was ‘what has successive government done’ to stop the energy crisis.